The NFL is making some adjustments ahead of the official start of the 2025 season, and just like every year, even minor rule changes tend to grab attention—especially when they impact how players will look on the field.
According to a report from Jeff Kerr, the league has updated its policy on alternate helmets, allowing teams to wear them at any point, regardless of whether they’re paired with alternate uniforms. This change will take effect starting with the 2025 season.
The update means teams that, for instance, have a black alternate helmet no longer need to pair it exclusively with a matching black alternate uniform. Now, they can mix and match helmet and uniform combinations more freely.
NFL keeps evolving alternate helmet rules
This move follows a 2024 change, when the NFL introduced a policy allowing teams to design a third alternate helmet for the 2025 season. At the time, teams had to notify the league before using them, and they were still required to pair them with alternate uniforms. That restriction is now gone, opening the door for more visual creativity on game days.
Trevor Lawrence #16 and Tim Jones #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars react in the third quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
How much does an NFL alternate helmet cost?
Official NFL helmets, sold by Riddell, can start at over $580 for standard colors and designs. But alternate versions with unique color schemes can exceed $700, like the nearly all-black version of the Jaguars helmet, which retails for $799, or certain special-edition Vikings models.
